Machine for making tire-carcasses.



w. c. STEVENS.-

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1913.1,253,159 Patented Jan. 8,1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET l.

2/ flaw/Z557? W. C. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. IBIS.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

AQFN/ Nu g .W. C. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CAHCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. 1913.

1,253,1U50 Patented 31111 8, 1918.

9 SE BBTSAHBET s.

W. C. STEVENS. MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, I9I3.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

9 SHEETSSHEET 4 W. C. STEVENS. MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, 1913.

1,Q53,105., Patented Jan. 8,1918.

9 SHBETS-SHEET 5- w. c. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APH.12,19!3.

L wmfifio I Patented Jan. 8,1918

9 SHEETS-SHEET E.

W. C. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE CARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-12,1913.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

9 SHEETSSHEET7 [fade/afar,

Wmeaaear W. C. STEVENS. MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE GARCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, I913.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8- W. C. STEVENS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE C'ABCASSES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 191 3.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

9 SHEETSSHEET 9.

WTTTD sTaTns PATENT oTTToT.

WILIJTAM C. STEVENS, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRESTONE TTRE doRUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHTO.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TIRE-CARCASSES.

Lasagna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J 8, 119E123.

Application filed April 12, 1913. fierial No. 760,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WILLIAM C. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Tmprovements in Machines for Making Tire-Carcasses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances employed in the making ofautomobile, motorcycle, and similar tire-casings, or shoes, and concernsmore particularly means for applying to and shaping on an annularrotatabl'e'tire-core, successive layers or plies of adhesiverubber-impregnated or frictioned tire-fabric, in such manner that theplies will all be stretched with proper uniformity to the same degreeregardless of their differences in dimensions and other physicalconditions, to give each other in the completed tire-structure'mutualsupport by reason of their cumulative and uniform capacity forresistance.

Heretofore, machines have been constructed' in which the tread-portionof the tirefabric has been overstretched in order to cause the ply toconform roughly to the contour of the core-and to reduce the amount offullness or surplus in the fabric to be cared for or absorbed at thesides of the core, but in the use of these devices, in addition to theobjectionable and weakening excessive stretching, Wrinkles and otherdefects have occurredin those portions of the fabric applied to thesides of the core, dependence being placed upon a subsequent eliminationof such Wrinkles, either Wholly or partially; The resulting detrimentaleffects of these defects thus occurring are not, however, com- .pletelyovercome by the subsequent removalor smoothing out of the wrinkles orfolds. In the operation of my improved machine, although the fabric isstretched only the required amount to maintain the finished tireshoe orcasing in normal shape and withproper strength, nevertheless, inapplying the fabric to the sides of the core, no wrinkles or similardefects are permitted to form. In other words, I avoid the effects ofand presence of such defects in the completed tire-casing or shoe bypreventing their occurrence as the fabric is smoothed down on to theform or core, rather than placing dependence upon an attemptedelimination of such faults after they have occurred.

consideration of the following detailed de-' scription of a machine ofthis character representing a preferred embodiment of the invention,such machine being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and to which reference should be made inconnection with the speci In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine showing the parts of themechanism in their positions during the fabric-stretching operation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts during thefabricsmoothing and applying operation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the machine, the parts being inthe same position as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of one of thefabric-smoothing rollers and its support; I

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section illustrating the mountings for thetrimming-knives;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section on line l212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section through the eccentric bearing-for one end of theshaft 74:, and

Figs. 14. and 15 are sections illustrating the action of the fabricapplying rollers on the fabric.

Referring to these drawings, it will be fabric-smoothing and applyingele- FLUID apparent that this machine is composed of two cotiperatingpartso-ne, the mechanism for supporting and rotating the chuck or spiderand tire-form or core, and the other,

the means for applying the plies of fric-' tioned or similar tire-fabricto such form. I will first describe the construction of theform-supporting and revolving mechanism and then the fabric-stretchingand applying means.

Rising from one section of a-right-angle base 20, (Figs. 4 and 5), is apair of standards or pillars 21 and 22, having at their upper endsalined bearings 23 and 24 accommodating a shaft25 carrying at one end auniversal expansible chuck -or spider 26 equipped with three arms 27,adapted to engage and support the usual tire-form or core 28 on whichthe tire-casing or carcass is built up by the application of a pluralityof plies of frictioned or adhesive tire-fabric. The form and style ofthis expanding-chuck is, of course, immaterial, so long as the tireformor core can be readily applied thereto and removed from it with facilityand despatch. In this art, the body of superposed layers or plies ofadhesive rubber-impregnated fabric before the completion of the casingor shceby applying thereto the tread and other parts, and the curing ofthe tire, is known as a carcass.

Between the bearings 23 and 24, shaft 25 has loosely mounted thereon adriving-pulley 29 rotated from any source of power, as by a belt, ,(notshown). Fixed to such pulley at one side thereof and also looselyrotatable on said shaft, I provide a pinion 30 meshing with a gear 31keyed to a lower shaft 32 revoluble in suitable-bearings in thestandards 21 and 22. Shaft 32 is also equipped with a pinion 33in meshwith a car 34 loose on shaft 25, this train of gearing constituting thewell known back gearing provided for a reduction of speed.

Pulley 29 is supplied with a clutch-mechanism 35, gear 34 also having aclutch device 36, either of which may be thrown into action by theshifting of a central common clutch sleeve 37 slidable in eitherdirection 011 the shaft 25 by means of a yoke 38 pivoted to the base at39 and connected by a link 40 with the crank-arm 41 u standing from oneend of a suitably journa ed rock-shaft 42 having connected at itsopposite end a pedal or footpiece 43. In order to hold the voke 38 andthe slidable clutch-sleeve 37 in neutral or inoperative position, thatis, centrally between the two clutch devices, with neither clutchactive, I interpose between the arm 41 and sleeve 37 and the companionclutch 36 has similar arms 46. In order to expand these latter arms, theadjacent portion of the sleeve 37 is beveled at 47 and the other end ofthe sleeve 37 is likewise beveled or tapered at 48 "and is in additionsupplied with an annular recess 49 adapted to receive the enlarged ends50 of arms 45, such co-action of the arms with the groove acting toretain the clutch-sleeve in its lefthand position as the I parts areviewed in Fig. 5, against the retracting action of spring 44.

When it is desired to rotate the chuck and form or core slowly, duringthe application and stretching of the tread-portions of the plies, theoperator steps on pedal 43, causing a shifting of the sleeve 37 to theright, as

the left, thereby rendering clutch 35 active and maintaining the same insuch condition because of the retention of sleeve 37 in the shiftedposition by the engagement of the enlarged ends 50 of the arms 45 in thegroove 49. As will be readily understood, under these conditions, shaft25vwill be rotated rapidly, because the pulley 29 is directly clutchedthereto. To stop the rotation of the chuck and form for the removal ofthe core and carcass, for example, the operator presses gently on thepedal 43, permittin g the sleeve 37 to come to neutral position, inwhich it will be maintained by the action of spring 44. Ifthe operatordesires to stop the rotation of the core after the completion of thestretching operation, he merely lifts his foot from the pedal and thelatter will automatically rise to neutral position so that neitherclutch will be operative.

The other portion of the right-angle base 20 has bolted thereto a hollowbox-section 51 having journaled in its end-walls at 52, 53, thecylindrical end-portions of a shaft 54, which projects out of the box 51at one end, the protruding portion having fastened thereto a handle 55of any suitable form, (Fig. 3). The central section of shaft 54 isslightly enlarged and screw-threaded at 56, I

such part passing through a similarly threaded bearing or box 57 boltedto the botcotipcrate with the longitudinal dovetailshaped rib 60 on thetop of the supporting box-section 51. In its top, (Fig. 6), thiscarriage or main slide 58 is provided with a pair of guideways 61,61,slidingly receiving the marginal guiding-ribs 62, 62, of anupper'slidable-carriage 63, the ribs 62 being held in the guideways 61,61, by suitable retaming-bars 64, 64,, overlapping them and I which atits lower end is pivotally connected bolted in place to the member 58.The latter has externally fastened thereto a pair of depending bearings65, 65, rotatably accommodating a cross-shaft 06 supplied internally ofthe hollow-slide or carriage 58 with a pair of gears 67 and 68, theteeth of which mesh with those of two inverted racks 69 and 70 fastenedto the bottom surface of the carriage 63, whereby the latter may beadvanced and retracted. At the front of this machine, shaft 06 hasfastened thereto a friction drive-wheel 71 equipped with a handle 72,which permits of the manual rotation of shaft 66 and the resultingtravel of the slide 63, as will be obvious. in order to permit a powerrotation of the shaft 00, l mount at the inner end of the hollow memheror slide 58, bearings 73, in which is adapted to revolve atransverse-shaft 74. carrying at its inner end a sprocket-wheel 75 andone end of a spacing-link 76, (Figs. 1 and 3),

by a short-shaft 77 to the lower end of another spacing-link 7 8, theupper end of the latter being bifurcated at 79, 5), and adapted to rockon shaft 82. At one end of shaft 77 ll employ a sprocket-wheel 80connected to the sprocket-wheel 75 by sprocket-- chain 81, and at theopposite end of shaft 77 I employ a similar sprocket-wheel 82operatively connected with another sprocketwheel 83, fixed to shaft 32between the arms 79, by meansof a second sprocket-chain 84. It should beapparent from this construction that the shaft 74 is at all timesrotated at a uniform speed through power delivered from the jack-shaft32 by means of the sprocket mecha nism described, the elbow or linkconnection permitting, as will be readily understood, the sliding of thecarriage 58 back and forth without breaking or interfering with theshaft-driving con nection referred to. In other words, the sprocketmechanism is capable of extension and contraction to accommodate itselfto the position of carriage 58 and shaft 74.

Shaft 7 4, instead of being directly mounted in the bearing" 73 at thefront of the machine, is rotatably received in an apertured boss 85,(Fig. 13), forming a part of a lever 86 and rotatable in the bearing 73,the shaft-receiving aperture extending through the boss and lever beingeccentrically disposed with relation to the cylindrical exterior of theboss. At its upper end, the lever 86 has fastened thereto anoperating-handle 87, the combined lever and handle being held in normalposition by a coil-contractile spring 88, (Fig. 1), secured at its lowerend to a stud 89 projecting outwardly from the carriage 58, the upperendof the spring being fastened by means of an eye 90 to the lower end ofthe lever. At its forward end shaft 74 has fixed or pinned thereto afriction-roller 91 adapted by manipulation or rocking of the combinedhandle and lever 87, 86, to be thrown into and out of driving peripheralfrictional engagement with the wheel 71 on shaft 66, and by this meansthe rotation of shaft 7 1 can be transi'nitted to shaft 66 to slide thecarriage 03 and the various parts carried thereby described hereinafter.

Fixed to the hub of roller 91, (Fig. 13) between the lever 80 and thefrictionroller, 1 provide a sprccket-wheel 92 co-acting with which is asprocket-chain 93 passing around another sprocket-wheel 9% fixed to thehub of a smaller friction-roller 96 revoluble on a stud 95 secured tothe lower end of lever 86. The roller 96 is also adapted by therockingof the handle 87 in the opposite direction to be thrown into andout of frictional engagement with the edge of wheel 71, it rotationbeing derived by the mechanism described from the shaft 7 1. By means ofthese two rollers 91 and 96, the operator, by manipulation of the handle87 may impart two different speeds of rotation to the shaft 66, which,of course, means two different speeds of advance of the carriage 63 andthe parts mounted thereon.

A plate 97 is mounted on the carriage or slide 63 some distance abovethe same, by means of a plurality of supporting posts or pillars 98, andhas fastened thereto and extended across the top of the same, abridgepiece 99 beneath which is a pair of shaped bars or arms 100 and101 fulcrumed on a pair of studs 102 and 102 on the plate 97 andconnected together above the arms by a. strengthening cross-bar 102 eachof the arms 100 and 101 having at its forward end an outwardlaterally-offset slotted-ear 103, (Fig. 7). This bridge-piece 99 on itsunder side and near its center, carries a pair of suitably mountedrevoluble grooved pulleys or sheaves 10 1, 104:, passing around which isa cord or cable .105, the two ends of which extend through holes 106 inthe pair of arms 100 and 101, the ends of the cord being knotted at 107to prevent their withdrawal through the holes. This cord supports aweight 108 provided with a supporting pulley 109, (Fig. 6), the cordalso passing over two suitably arranged and properly supported pulleys110, 111 disposed in vertical planes, as shown in Fig. 7. llt should,therefore. be clear that the weight of the member 108 is imposed equallyupon the two arms or bars 100 and 101, tending to draw them together,yet permitting each to have an independent individual movement and atall times, the pull on the two bars will be equal and unvarying, On thebar or arm 101 at 112, 7). l fulcrum the short leg or end of aright-angle handle 113, and I connect such handle with the companionarnkil 100 by means of a link 114 pivoted to eac llli Each of theslotted ends 103 of the fulcrumed arms 100 and 101, has adjustablybolted thereto a right-angle bracket 115 having an upstanding portion orear 116 with a roughened face against which is held the end of an arm117 in such manner as to be capable of vertical angular adjustment, thearm being held or .maintained in the desired position by means of a bolt118 passing through the parts 116 and 117. As is described hereinafter,each of these arms 117 carries at its other end a fabric-smoothing andapplying roller, and this angular adjustment of the arm permits theroller'to be tilted in a plane oblique to the path of rotation of thatportion of the core being acted upon by the roller. In ordinaryoperation, these arms slope downwardly slightly to secure this desiredtilting or obliquity of the roller.

Each of the arms 117 has pivoted thereto at 119 near its end, arightangle member 120, one leg of which is equipped with aspring-pressed locking-detcnt 121, the inner end 122 of which is adaptedto co-act with two notches 123 123*, in a sector 123, integral or rigidwith the arm 117, such construction of parts permitting angularadjustment of themember 120 in two positions, as will be readilyunderstood. The other leg of the right-angle member has a cylindricalportion 124 mounted on which I employ a sleeve 125 received between apair of coil-springs 126 and 127 encircling the shaft 124, each springbearing at one end against an end of the slceve.'125 and at its otherend against a washer 128 or 129, the latter and associated parts beingheld in proper assembled relation on the shaft 124 by a nut 130 securedon a reduced threaded end of the shaft. The sleeve 125, (Fig. 9),

carries a ball-bearing 131 for a fabricsmoothing roller 132 of peculiardisk-like formation, the working-edge portion 133 of such roller beingcurved in approximately the form illustrated. As is clearly shown, thehub-portion of this roller houses and covers its ball-bearing andassociated parts of the mechanism. The recess in the front face of theroller enables me to bring the nut 130 and other parts inwardly of suchface so that the face is practically an unobstructed plane. 3

The member 120, as has been explained, is capable of angular adjustmentin two positions around the stud 119. permitting the plane of the rollerto be shifted as required, and the plane of such roller isperpendicular' to the general plane of the core, being held in suchposition by the detent 122 engaging notch 123, except when shifted asdescribed hereinafter.

The carriage or slide 63 is not only apertured at 134 for the passagetherethrough of the weight-supporting cord or cable 105,

the weight being received within the member 58, but it is also equippedat each side with a pair of guideway-members 135 and .136 acting asguides for a pair of slides 137. Each of such slides at its inner endcarries a knife-holder 137 angularly adjustable on the slide around ascrew 137 and capable of being held in adjusted position by a tightening-screw 137, which passes through a slot 137 in the slide 137. Each ofthe knifeholders 137 has a transverserotatable screw 138 supplied with aturning-handle 139, cylindrical portions of such screw being rotatablein suitable bearings 140 and 141 in the holder. Each holder also carriesa splitclamp 142 provided witha cylindrical aperture therethrough forthe accommodation of a trimming-knife 143 and two segments 143 disposedon opposite sides of the knife and permitting an angular adjustment ofthe knife about its ownaxis in the clamp, the knife and segments beingheld in adjusted position by means of clamp-tightening screw in whichthey are received, each has a setscrew 146 with a suitable handle forits tightening and loosening.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 10, the two knives 143, 143, extend inwardlytoward one another and are adapted to be fed inwardly.

to trim off the surplus fabric at the innerv edges of the finishedcarcass.

Also on the sliding-box or member 58, in

suitable bearings 147, 147 I hinge two sidemembers 148 of a carriage orrocking-frame, each of such members having at its lower end alaterally-extended apertured arm 149 through the hole of which passes ascrew 150 threaded at its lower end into a correspond.

ingly threaded hole in the slide or carriage 58, and encircling suchscrews between their heads and the legs or arms 149, I employ coil'comprcssing -springs 151 tending to rock the frame or carriage,composed in part of the side-members, in a direction toward the core.These two-side members are connected together by a pair of tic-rods 154and 154"- on the former of which is loosely rotatably mounted a fabricguide-roller 156. Each of these side-members has bearings for twocross-shafts 152 and 153, the latter having fixed thereto a stretchingdrum 155 supplied with a friction-surface such as would be provided byapplying to the drum :1 layer of rubber-impregnated frictioned fabric,such as is used in the building-up of the carcasses. Shaft 152 hasloosely. mounted thereon and centrally thereof, a retarding orchecking-roller 157 with a soft-rubber concave-face shaped to conformsubstan* tially to the curvature of the face of the tire core 28. Thisroller bears against a collar 158 fixed to the shaft at one sidethereof, and has fastened to its opposite face one toothed member 159 ofa clutch mechanism, the companion member 160 of which is similarlytoothed and provided with a handle 161, such member 160 being splined toand slidable on the shaft 152 so as to be capable of clutching theroller 157 to the shaft and unclutching it therefrom. The outwardmovement of the clutch-member 160 is limited by means of another collar162 fixed to the shaft. When the roller 157 bears against or presses onthe tire-core or the fabric-' plies applied thereto, owing to thefrictional engagement between the parts, they both have the same surfacespeed. In order that the stretching roller 155 may positively anduniformly travel at a surface speed different from that of thechecking-roller 157, ll employ a gear 163 on the end of shaft 152, whichmeshes with the gear 164 on the end of shaft 153 and so choose the sizeof the gears and the diameter of the stretchingroller that each ply willbe given a definite uniform stretch throughout its central part.

On the carriage or slidable box 58, at one end, I mount a pair ofupright standards 165, each provided with a pair of slotted bearings 166and 167 for the reception of the ends of shafts 168 and 169 carrying thedrums 170 and 171 respectively, the former being adapted to have woundup thereon the usual cotton cloth liner separating the plies on the drum171 as such liner and plies are unwound from the latter drum. This upperdrum 170 and as much of the liner as has been wound thereon, restdirectly on the surface of the combined frictional plies and liner woundon the supply-drum 171 in a common and. well known manner, so that asthe latter is revolved to draw off a fabric ply the drum 170 issimilarly rotated to wind up the liner thereon. Shaft 169 is equippedwith a detachable handle 172 for a purpose hereinafter indicated.

The operation of this machine takes place substantially as follows;

The operatonplaces in the bearings 167 a shaft 169'carrying a drum 171,having wound up thereon in proper sequence the supply of plies ofrubber-impregnated or frictioned fabric, the layers of which areseparated from one another by the ordinary cloth circumferentially andcrosswise and also because the latter plies are placed over the beads.As is usual, these plies are cut on the bias to permit the adhesiverubber-im- The man having the machine in charge places the tire-form orcore 28 on the universal expansion-chuck or spider 26 and expands orelongates the arms 27 so as to securely retain the core thereon,compelling rotation of the form or core with the shaft Then the workman,by turning the handle 55, advances the carriage or slide 58 toward theform or core until the face of the checkingroller 157 engages the core,and then he turns the handle 55 still further, causing the carriagetoadvance somewhat more, bringing about a rearward rocking of thecarriageor frame 148, 148,154 and 154 in the bearings 1.47 until thefeet 149 are raised slightly above the carriage 63 against the downwardpressing action of springs 151, such elevation of these feet indicatingto the operator the proper position of the carriage. The

slide 58 and appurtenant parts remain in this position until the carcassis completed.

Now the workman draws the advance or front end of the first ply offabric from the supply roll, passes it beneath the loose guideroller 156and over the retarding or stretching roller 155, and causes its frontend, which is cut off diagonally, to adhere to the form by means ofcement,it being understood that' the ends of the various plies of fabricon. the supply drum are overlapped and thereby temporarily splicedtogether so that as each ply of fabric is stretched on the core the nextsucceeding ply assists in the stretching operation, forming anelongation or extension of the ply which is being stretched. In otherwords, the ends of the adjacent adhesive plies wound up on thesupply-drum 171 are stuck together so, as to constitute a continuouslength of material separable into plies or sections, however, asrequired.

The person in charge of the machine steps on the pedal 43, throwing;-the clutch 36 into action, causing a relatively slow rotation of theshaft 25 and the core by means of the back-gearing 30, 31, 32, 33'and34. During such rotation of the form or core, the clutchmembers 159 and160 are in operative engagement, whereby the rotation'of the stretchingroller 155, which has a tendency owing to the fabric passing over it torevoly e at the same surface speed as the core,

engagement of the retarding or checking- 1 A roller 157 with the surfaceof the coreis obtained by the pull of-the fabric exerted by the core inits rotation and. also by the weight of the hinged frame carrying thestretchin mechanism. Because of this ositive, uniform, slower, surfacespeed of the stretching roller 155, and because of the fact that thecore is rounded in cross-section, the central zone or middle portion ofthe fabric ply is stretched longitudinally uniformly throughout itslength, and is at the same time, stretched somewhat cross-wise, causingit to adequately, smoothly, and properly adhere to the outer ortread-portion of the core, requiring no rolling or further shapingtreatment. This rotation of the core, of course, automatically unwindsthe ply and a part of the next succeeding ply from the sup ply-drum 171.

When the core has completed one revolution, the operator removes hisfoot from the pedal 43, which automaticall swings up under springaction, throwing t e clutch 36 out of operation, that is to say, therotation of the form or core stops, and, during such cessation in therotation, the man breaks the overlapping splice between the last end ofthe first ply and the advance end of the second ply, and by means of thehandle 172 on the shaft of the supply-roller, rewinds on the latter aportion of the second ply and its liner, the remainder of the second plybeing temporarily folded backover the roller 156 out of cofiperativerelation with the stretching-roller 155.

The first ply of adhesive fabric having been thus stretched on the formand its two ends overlapped the required amount to form a proper spliceor joint, it will be found that its central section corresponding to thetread-portion of the tire is shaped to and causedto adequately adhere tothe form without wrinkles. air-bubbles or other defects, during suchrelatively slow rotation of the form and not by the action of the roller157 which runs over a part of its surface, but rather by the stretchingoperation ltself, the stretching not only elongating the central sectionof the ply but causing its proper application to the peripheral part ofthe form. It being understood that each ply is individually stretched onthe core and then smoothed down into position on the sides of the corebefore the next ply is stretched and applied, the ply now on the form isready forthe application of its sideportions to the side faces :of thecore, such smoothing of the fabric causing its adhesion to the corebeing accomplished at a higher speed of rotation of the latter than thatused 7 so that the shaft 25 andthe core are rotated directly at a morerapid speed by the pulley 29. The man then by grasping the handle 113and shifting it to the left separates the rollers 133, and by turningthe wheel 71 by the handle 7 2, advances the carriage 63 until therollers are opposite the places on the core at which they are to begintheir operation. The operator releases handle 113 permitting the weight108 to pull the rollers toward one another, that is, toward the core,with an equal pressure due to the action of weight 108. a He then shiftsthe handle 87 to the right so as to cause the constantly rotating wheel91 to frictionally engage the edge of wheel 71, and in this waymechanically and uniformly advances the carriage and rollers toward theaxis of the core, these rollers, owing to the action'of weight 108,readily following the contour of the core and being pressed toward thecore under equal pressures uniformly throughout their traverse. Thecore, as is usualin machines of this kind, during the smoothing-downaction, is rotated quite rapidly as stated, and the efiect of thisrotation is to spread out somewhat skirtwise and substantially free fromwrinkles, any unattached parts of the ply which is undergoingattachment. During this rapid rotation of the core the springs 151 areuseful to preventthe roller 157 and the swinging-frame 14.8 frombouncing or jumping unduly as the roller passes over the overlappingends of the ply. The shapingrollers .act upon the fabric just at thejunctions of the skirtwisespread, practically unwrinkled portions withtheattached portions. Each of the shaping or smoothingrollers as hasbeen explained, is desirably tilted in a plane slightly transverse oroblique to the path ofrotation of that zone of fabric which the rolleris acting on, with the advance edge of the roller more remote from theaxis of the core so as to effect an inward wiping, smoothing, andsqueegee action on the fabric as it presses itdown into place on thecore or in the case of later plies, on one of the plies below. Due tothis disposition or inclination of the rollers, the latter-crowd orpress the fabric as they apply it in the general direction of rotationof and progressively ,toward the center of the form, thereby efficientlyand adequately condensing or compressing the fabric to prevent theoccurrence of wrinkles, folds, or similar defects, in the applied ply.

Owing to the fact that the ply is cut on the Less,

bias, this wiping action of the fabric-applying roller inwardly towardthe axis of the core and also 1n the direction of rotation of the core,due to its tilted position, results in a stretching of the fabricradially or transversely of the core, thereby bringing about acircumferential contraction or shortening of the belt or zone of fabricacted upon by the roller, and the next adjacent belt or zone, in thisWay preliminarily preparing the latter for its application to anadjoining portion of the core naturally of somewhat lesser diameter. Tnthis manner the roller progressively causes the adhesion of the fabricto thecore, first shortening each zone or belt before rolling it downinto place. It should be clear that such tilting of the roller not onlystretches the fabric trans versely of'the core, but also condenses orcompacts the fabric circumferentially to ab sorb the fullness.

' The working-face of the stitching-roller is essentially that of arounded edge. llt must be sharp enough to produce under pressure thescraping or rubbing effect upon the fabric heretofore referred to, butit must not be sharp enough to cut or abrade the fabric. Thefabric-shaping disk or roller should also have a diameter sufficient togive the effective line or tangent of contact a perceptible length, thatis, this line of contact should be something considerably a, more than amere point. My preferred form of fabric-shaping element is a disk withone face practically flat, the other face being substantially parallelto the first up to near the edge where it is sloped or rounded off tomeet the first or back face. This enables the roller to work down closerand more effectively into and over the recess caused by the bead on thetire when the later plies of fabric are worked into place. At the sametime, the rounded edge which progresses first in the inward movement ofthe tool enables me to meet the sharp curve of the bead and to shape andfinish this off to good advantage and to prepare the fabric as indicatedabove for the completer work of the sharper edge. This arrangement ofthe edge I have found to be perhaps the best in practice. There is justenough dragging action owing to the tilt of the disk to stretch andsmooth the fabric properly, While the edge instead of traveling in aline has a path of appreciable width. llts effect is thus better andmore uniformly distributed over the fabric. In making tire-casings byhand the operator with one hand pulls or stretches the fabric atintervals toward the center of the core, While with the other hand heworks the applying-tool, (a disk-like roller mounted in a handle), by aseries of strokes directed tangentially andslightly inwardly on the faceof the fabric covering the core, and thus tries to tit and smooth thefabric on the core. My device does this with uniformity and regularity,

While the essentially different manually-performed series of acts justalluded to are apt to be more or less inaccurate owing to the possiblevagaries and inattention of the operator and the uncertainties of hispersonal equation;

It will, of course, be understood and appreciated that the parts of thismechanism are so constructed and related to one another that during theinward travel or advance of the rollers from a position adjacent to thetread-portion to the inner part of the core, the latter makes manyrevolutions, the inward travel of the rollers being progressive andgradual so that they act in sequence upon successive zones or portionsof the unapplied fabric to apply them or cause them to be attached tothe core in the manner indicated above.

Instead of releasing the handle 118 during this fabric-applying action,the operator may retain such han dle in his hand and augment the actionof the weight 108 on the rollers, and by holding the handle, may steadysomewhat the action of the rollers as they pass over the splices. This,however, is not absolutely essential since the weight itself cansatisfactorily perform this function.

The rollers having reached the inner edges of the ply, the operator bymeans of the handle 113 separates the rollers and by releasing thehandle 87 and manually turning the Wheel 71 by means of the handle 72,the carriage on which the rollers are mounted is retracted out ofoperative position ready for the application and stretching of thesecond ply on top of the first ply. The man Working the machine presseson the pedal, permitting it to resume its neutral position, therebystopping the rotation of the core. He then takesthe advance end of thesecond ply, brings it over the retarding roller 155 and presses it downby hand on top of the first ply. He then slides the clutclrmember 160into engagement with the companion clutch-member 159, the part 160having been out of such co-action during the previous operation. Heagain steps on the pedal and brings about the slow rotation of the core.during which the second ply is stretched on the core over the first plyin the same manner that the latter was stretched on the core. Inattaching the advance end of the second ply to the first ply, theoperator is, of course, careful not to cause an overlapping of spliceson the tread-portion of the core. The second ply is stretched insubstantially the same manner as the first ply, the rotation of the corethen stopped, the splice or joint attended to, and the plv is thensmoothed down in place on the sides by the rollers as was the first plyat the higher 6 medica speed of rotation of the core, bringing about aproper unwrinkled application of such second ply on top of the first, towhich it adheres as will be readily understood.

This operation is repeated a sufficient number of times to build up theplies one on another until the desiredthickness has been secured; thentwo circular beads 173, 173, (Fig. 15), are placed on the sides of the10 carcass under process of construction and caused toadhere thereto.The next ply of frictional fabric, after having been stretched over theunderlying plies is rolled down by the disks or rollers in the samemanner as the preceding pliesuntil such rollers reach I the beads. Then,owing to the rather abrupt curved surfaces ofthese beads it isdesirable.that the smoothing-rollers travel inwardly more slowly, and toefi'ect this the operator shifts the handle 87 to the left as the partsare viewed in Fig. 2, bringing the smaller friction-roller 96 intocontact with the edge of wheel 71 and the larger frictionroller 91 outof such contact. During such slower inward advance of the rollers over,the beads, the operator, if he desires, although it is not absolutelynecessary, may decrease the inward pulling-action of the weight 108 onsuch rollers by applying pressure on the handle 113 in opposition to theinward pull of the weight, and in this way all tendency to dislodge thebeads is overcome and the application of the fabric to the underlyingplies and to the bead itself 35. neatly effected. It will be noted thatowing to the tilted arrangement of the disks, they are given a tendencyto traverse the rather steep faces of the beads, and this tendency isaccentuated by the shape of the edge of the disks, so that the disksowing to these foregoing characteristics pass in their traverse easilyover the faces of the beads, and smooth the friction fabric down uponthe beads and settle the latter into permanent position on the sides ofthe carcass. Owing to-the yielding mountings of these disks or rollerson their supporting fulcrumed arms, they may shift position somewhataxially. against the centering action of'the opposed springs 126 and 127and automatically accommodate themselves to any slight irregularities ofthe beads.

When these rollers reach the inner abrupt faces 17 1 of the beads, thatis, the surfaces 55 bet-ween the clench or heel and toe of the beads,the operator releases the handle 87,

permitting it to automatically resume its neutral position as determinedby. the action of spring 88, throwing the-friction- 60 wheel 96 out ofcooperative relation with the wheel 71. The angular adjustment of'therollers is then shifted to the position indicated in Fig. 15, therollers or disks being held in their new adjusted position, as will v bereadily understood, by the coiiperation of the catches or detents 121with the notches 123". This shifting of the position of the rollers isdone to permit them to accommodatethemselves more etficiently to thesurfaces on which they are about to act. By grasping the handle 72 theoperator holds the shaft 66 from turning, that is, holds-the carriagefrom movement, and then by manipulating the handle 113 the tiltedrollers are fed directly in back of the beads, applying the fabricwithout wrinkles or other defects to the abrupt faces 174, the advanceedges only, of the disks being operative.

. After the required number of plies have been placed on the core in themanner indicated, both beneath and over the beads, the pair of Slides137 are adjusted and held in adjusted position by the set-screws 116,and then the trimming-knives 143 are advanced or fed inwardly toward oneanother by turning the screws 139 so as to trim off the surplus materialat the inner side of the car cass, that is, at the toes of the beads.During this trimming-operation the form is revolved at the samerelatively high speed at which the rolling down or smoothing of thefabric is done. Then the trimming-knives are retracted, the slidespushed back, the carriage 63 slid back, and the core and tirecasing 01'carcass thereon removed from the chuck ready forfinishing and curing andthe machine is now in condition for the reception of a new form or core.It might be observed, however, that owing to the universal adjustment ofwhich the trimming-knives are susceptible, the trimming is accomplishedwith effectiveness and despatch.

It should be noted that in the actuation of this improved machine duringthe stretch ing-operation, the middle-section of each 105 ply of fabricis stretched longitudinally a definite percentage of its originallength, such stretching being occasioned by the pull ing-action of theform and the retarding or holding back action of the roller or drum 155.Since the concave checking-roller, desinably made of soft rubber,travels on the surface of the form, or the outermost ply if severalplies have been placed on the form, the stretching of the layer or plyof fabric being applied is determined by the length of the surface onwhich the roller travels so that a definite percentage of stretch isbrought about in each ply regardless of its original length, the variousplie varying in their original length, being preliminarily cut inaccordance with the usual practice.

Owing to this manner ofapplying these layers or plies, the middle zoneof each one is stretched uniformly throughout its length and with thesame degree of stretch that is given to all other plies. In this way inthe finished product, each ply reinforces the other and is in turnreinforced and strengthened by them in their pressure-re a greater forceor pull is necessary to obtain a certain degree of elongation orstretch,

whereas if the" same ply is stretched in a room of higher temperaturethe force necessary to stretch it is not so great, consequently, when aband-brake is employed it should be either adjusted to meet thedifferent temperature requirements or else the amount of stretch in theplies will not be uniform. In my construction, however, owing to thepositive connection between the stretching-roller and the'retarding orcheckmg-roller the amount of elongation given to each ply is necessarilythe same percentage" of its original length, the result being atirecarcass possessing more uniform and greater strength than thoseheretofore produced.

To those skilled in this art, it will be apparent that some initialstretching of the fabric plies during the-making of the tirecarcass isnecessary in order to prevent undue enlargement or expansion of thecasing or shoe when its inner tube is blown up, and it is carrying itsload. It is important, however, that the plies should not beoverstretched as has been customary in other tire-making machines whichI am acquainted with, such undue stretching causing the easing to beweak when the load and ressure are applied, vbut on the other han if theplies are understretchedthe shoe or casing fails to keep its shape andto wear to the best advantage. This improved machine is so designed asto give the plies the proper percentage of stretch throughout theirmiddle zones or sections. This, of'course, means that a greater amountof fullness or surplus of stock must be absorbed in the sides of thetire than in those instances where the middle-portions of the plies areoverstretched,

. but my mechanism efficiently applies the side-sections of the fabricplies to the core- Without defects, depending upon the principles ofoperation hereinabove outlined.

till

stretches these side-sections which necessarily means an extra amount offullness which must be condensed in the sides of the carcass. lfn thismachine, however, the stretch of the side-portions is reduced to amlnimum, thereby overcoming this obvious objection to hand-stretching.

Since my fabric-applying rollers are ca pable of yielding inpractically'all directions, their travel over the fabric and the splicesis facilitated, without varying the pressure of the rollers on thefabric brought about by the action of a common weight on the two armscarrying the rollers. Another point of advantage in this construction isthat the same rollers can be used on all parts of the tire, with theexception of the central section of the tread Whichis applied and causedto adhere in position during the application of the ply to the form,that 1s, duringthe stretching operation itself. lftis also to be notedthat another feature of superiority resides in the fact that no formshields or shield-rollers are necessary for applying or guiding thefabric to the core.

The structure of this mechanism is not only simple and inexpensive toproduce, but the manufacturer is not required to have difl'er- .entmachines for different sizes of cores and carcasses, because allordinary sizes of tires can be made on one machlne without adJustment orextra tools, it being merely necessary to use difl'erent forms or coresand pieces of frictioned fabric of appropriate size.

llhese machines can economically produce tire-casing carcasses becausethey can be operated at a relatively high speed, and al- Mid lllltlscription of the construction and operation I i of a preferredembodiment of this invention, it should be borne in mind that manymechanical changes may be made in the structure set forth withoutdeparture from the substance of the invention, and without the sacrificeof any of its substantial benefits and advantages. F or instance, ifhave herein outlined a construction wherein the core or form revolvesand the rollers remain relatively stationary, but of course, theoperation could be reversed.

Whereas above l have described the fabric-applying roller as beingtilted in a plane 0 being to give the roller an eflective action uponthe fabric in a'path of appreciable width to accomplish the resultreferred to.

Above I have stated certain theories regarding the action which thevarious instrumentahties of the mechanism bring about on" good workingbasis for an understanding of the operation of the machine they may notbe wholly free from error and for that reason I do not wish to berestricted and necessarily bound to them.

I claim:

1. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying member located in a plane oblique to the pathof rotationof the core at the point of action of such member on the core, and meansto cause said fabric-applying member to travel in a spiral path over thecore, sub stantially as described.

2. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying roller located in a plane oblique to the path ofrotation of the core at the point of action of the roller on the core,and means to cause said fabric-applying roller to travel in a spiralpath over the core, substantially as described.

3. In atire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying member located in a plane oblique to the path ofrotation of the core .at the point of action of the member on the core,means yieldingly pressing said member toward the core, and means tocause said fabric-applying member to traverse the side of the core in aspiral path, substantially as described.

4. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying member located in a plane oblique to the path ofrotation of the core at the point of action of the member on'the core,and means to feed said member inwardly toward the core- .axis,.wherebysuch member may act on successive portions of the tire-fabric to applythe same to the core or a previously applied underlying ply of fabric onthe core, substantially as-described. r

5. In' a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying member located in a plane oblique to the path ofrotation of the core at thepoint of action of the member on the core,means yieldingly pressing said member toward the core, and means to feedthe member inwardly toward the core axis, whereby said member may'act onsuccessive portions of the tire-fabric to apply the same to the core ora previousl applied underlyin l of fabric on the core, substantially sdescribed. p

6. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying roller located in a plane oblique to the path ofrotation of the core at the point of action of the roller on the core,means yieldingly pressing the fabric-applying roller toward the core,and means to feed the roller inwardly toward the core-axis during therotation of the core, whereby the roller may act on successive portionsof the tire-fabric to apply the same to the core or a previouslyappliedunderlying ply of fabric on the core, substantially as described.

7. Ina tire-machine, the combination of/ a revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying member, means tending to move said member toward thecore, meansato feed said member inwardly toward the axis of the core,whereby the member acts on successive portions of the tire-fabric toapply the same to the core or a previously applied ply of fabric on thecore, and manually-operable means to regulate the action of said movingmeans on said member, substantially as de-' scribed.

8. Ina tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, a pair offabrimapplying rollers adapted to act simultaneously on opposite sides'of the core,means to press said rollers toward the core during theentire application of the fabric, means to feed said rollers inwardlytoward the core-axis, whereby the rollers act on successive portions ofthe tire-fabric to apply the same to the core, or a previously appliedunderlying ply of fabric on the core, and a manually-operable meansadapted to regulate the action of said roller-moving means ill) on saidrollers, substantially as described.

9. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, a pairof fabric-applying rollers adapted to simultaneously act on oppositesides of the core, means common to both of said rollers acting to movethem with an equal pressure toward the core during the entireapplication of the fabric, means to feed saidrollers inwardly toward thecore-axis, whereby the rollers act on successive portions of thetire-fabric to apply,

the same to the core or a previously-applied underlying ply of fabric onthe core, and a manually-operable means to regulate the action of saidmoving means on said rollers, substantially as described.

10. In a tire-machine, the combination of a' revoluble tire-core, afabric-applying roller, means to move said rolIer toward the core duringthe entire application of the fabric, means to exert on said roller auniform pressure toward the core at all positions of the roller on thecore, means to feed said roller inwardly toward the core-axis,

memos whereby the roller actsprogressively on successive portions of thetire-fabric to apply the same to the core or a previously appliedunderlying ply of fabric on the core, and

or a previously applied underlying ply of fabric onthe core, andmanually-operable means adapted to rock said arms on their fulcrums,whereby to modify the action of manually-operable means to modify thesaid weight on said arms, substantially as action of said roller movingmeans, substantially as described.

11. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, a pairof fabric-applying members adapted to act simultaneously on oppositesides of the core, means common to both of said members to exert thesame uniform pressure toward the core on both of the members at allpositions of the latter on the core, means to feed said members inwardlytoward the core-axis, whereby themembers act on successive portions ofthe tire-fabric'to apply the same to thecore or a previously appliedunderlying ply of fabric on the core, and manual means to modify theaction of said pressure-applying means on said members, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a tire-making machine, the combi-' nation of a revolubletire-core, a pair of fabric-applymg members adaptedto act simultaneously on opposite sides of the core, means common to both of saidmembers to exert the same uniform pressure toward the core on both ofsaid members at all positions of the latter on the core, means to fe'edsaid members inwardly toward the core axis, whereby the members actprogressively on successive portions of the tire-fabric to apply thesame to the core or a previously applied underlying ply of fabric on thecore, and manual means to modify equally the action of saidpressure-applying means on both'of said members, substantially asdescribed.

13. v In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, acarriage, a pair of arms fulcrumed on said carriage, a fabricapplyingmember on each of said arms, means acting on said arms tending to movesaid members toward the core during the entire application of thefabric, means to advance said carriage and members toward the core axis,whereby the members may act on successive portions of the tirefabric toapply the same to the core or a previously applled underlying ply offabrlc on the core, and manually-operable means to rock said arms ontheir fulcrums, whereby to modify the action of said arm-movin means,substantially as described' l4. Ina tire-machine, the combination of arevoluble tire-core, a carriage, a pair of arms fulcrumed onsaidcarriage, a fabricapplylng member on each of said arms, aweight'acting on and common to both of said arms tending to draw saidarms toward the core, means to advance said carriage and members towardthe core-axis, whereby the members ma act on successive portions of (I,the tire-fabric to apply the same to the core the axis of the core,whereby the rollers act on successive portions of the tire-fabric toapply the same to the core or a previously applied underlying ply offabric on the core, a right-angle manually-operable lever connected toone of said arms, and a link connecting said lever to the other arm,whereby the operator is enabled to swing said arms on their fulcrums tomodify the action of said arm-pressing means, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, acarriage, a pair of arms fulcrumed on said carriage, a fabric- ,applyingmember on each of said arms, said members being adapted to actsimultaneously on both sides of the core, a -wei ht common to and actingon said arms tending to press or force the members toward the core, andmanually-controlled means adapted to advance said carriage and memberstoward the axis of the core at any one of a plurality of speeds, wherebythe members act progressively on opposite sides of the core onsuccessive portions of the tirefabric to apply the same to the core or apreviously applied underlying ply of fabric on the core, the rate ofadvance of said carriage being determined in accordance with the contourof the surface to which the ply is being applied, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a tire-machine, the combination of a revoluble tire-core, acarriage movable toward and away from the core, means to move saidcarriage, means mounted on said carriage and adapted to stretch thefabric as it is applied to the core, a second carriage mounted on saidfirst-named carriage, a pair of fabric-applying members mounted on saidsecond carriage and adapted to act simultaneously on opposite sides ofthe core, and means to advance said second carriage on the firstcarriage and members toward the axis ofthe core, whereby said membersact on successive portions of the tire-fabric to apply the same to'thecore or a previously applied underlying'ply of fabric on the core,substantially as described.

18. In a tire-machine, the combination of

